Looking for additional help with your resume?  We’ve put together a Master’s Appreciation Package to demonstrate our appreciation for your achievement, and to assist you in taking the next step.   This package offers special pricing for orders placed through July 31 to any individual currently enrolled in a Master’s program, or individuals who have graduated from a Master’s program within the last 12 months.

Master’s Appreciation Package

Silver Package – Resume Only: $265
Gold Package – Resume & Cover Letter: $350
Platinum Package – Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn: $435

Resume Slant (alternative version of the resume for different career path): $110
LinkedIn Profile Stand Alone (If we don’t write your resume): $200
LinkedIn Profile (for add on to Silver Package): $85

Click HERE to get started today, or review some more of our sample resumes.

The Best Resume Writing Service – 5 Key Questions

1. What does it cost and what does that include?

Most resume writing companies offer a-la-carte professional resumes or packages that bundle resumes, cover letters, LinkedIn profiles, and bios.  When looking for the best resume writing service to suit your budget and needs, make sure you understand what the price includes, what the process will entail (questionnaire, worksheet, phone consultation, edits, etc), and when the fee is due.  Most resume writing companies charge a flat fee up front, and offer a satisfaction guarantee.

2. What is your company’s background and credentials?

Great resume writing requires excellent writing skill, but also demands knowledge of the careers industry and current trends in hiring.  The best resume writing service will offer a few years or more experience in the industry, regular contact with recruiters, and professional resume writing credentials, such as the Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) designation.  Going a step further, you might also seek out a resume writing company with specialized expertise in your particular field.

3. Can I see sample resumes?

Legitimate resume writing companies will be more than happy to show you samples of their work.  You should request to see samples of resumes that might apply to your particular industry, type of job, career level, or employment situation.

4. What is your guarantee?

The best resume writing service for you will offer a guarantee that makes you comfortable.  Most services will rewrite your resume for free if you do not receive interviews within a certain period of time, usually 30 to 60 days.  Make sure to ask what is required to trigger the guarantee, as many will ask to see documentation of job applications and correspondence with recruiters and hiring managers.

5. Can you provide references and testimonials? 

The best resume writing service for you will be able to offer positive endorsements from past clients that resonate with what you need.  Read testimonials written directly by clients on LinkedIn, review sites, or the company’s website.  If you’ve contacted a resume writing company through a referral, speak with the person who referred you to better understand their experience.

These are just a few questions to guide you as you make your choice.  Remember, this is an investment, so take your time, ask the right questions, and use your instinct to choose the best resume writing service for YOU.

Need a new resume?  ORDER NOW or CONTACT US to discuss your needs!

MBA Resume Examples for Candidates & Graduates

With this in mind, we’ve pulled some of our best MBA resume examples for MBA candidates and graduates to help give you some ideas, and show you how L.D. Writing & Resumes can help you use your new degree as a catalyst to a new career path.

MBA Resume Examples – #1

MBA Resume Examples – #2

Master’s Degree Candidates & Recent Graduates – Order Now and Get 10% Off Our Lowest Prices!

Looking for additional help with your resume?  We’ve put together a Master’s Appreciation Package to demonstrate our appreciation for your achievement, and to assist you in taking the next step.   This package offers special pricing for orders placed through July 31 to any individual currently enrolled in a Master’s program, or individuals who have graduated from a Master’s program within the last 12 months.

Master’s Appreciation Package

Silver Package – Resume Only: $265
Gold Package – Resume & Cover Letter: $350
Platinum Package – Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn: $435

Resume Slant (alternative version of the resume for different career path): $110
LinkedIn Profile Stand Alone (If we don’t write your resume): $200
LinkedIn Profile (for add on to Silver Package): $85

Click HERE to get started today, or review some more of our sample resumes.

In today’s internet-driven world, your online identity might be the first touch point with potential clients, referral partners, and new contacts.  Even if you can make a great impression face-to-face or on the phone, you may never get that chance if your online presence doesn’t engage, or worse, diminishes your credibility.

Would you be proud to tell a client to visit your LinkedIn profile?  Do you show up frequently in LinkedIn search results for your target specialties?  Are there plenty of opportunities for visitors to contact you or link easily to your website from your LinkedIn profile and LinkedIn activity?  Are you confident in what visitors will learn about you in the professional bio and / or company description on your company’s website and other channels?

If the answer is NO to any one of these questions, it’s time to step up your game, and L.D. Writing & Resumes would love to assist you!  Business owners and business development professionals require several key tools to maximize online presence and growth:

• LinkedIn Profile Development – LinkedIn is the leading online professional networking site.  Your profile serves as an online brochure displaying your credentials, skills, and background, and can act as the face of your business.  The way it is written, whether or not it is complete, and the use of LinkedIn features influence whether people can find you, want to connect with you, how they perceive you, and whether they will consider doing business with you.
• Professional Bio – The professional bio tells the story of who you are, what you offer, what’s different about you, and what you’ve done throughout your professional history.  This incorporates many elements from the LinkedIn profile, but is written in paragraph form and often shows up on a company website.
• Company Profile- Your company profile should communicate the mission, vision, and values of your company, its history and reputation, and a taste for the benefits of your products or services.  The company description can be placed on your company website in the “About Us” section, or used in shorter form on your company page for LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Google +1, and any other online channel.

L.D. Writing & Resumes has created a suite of Business Development Success Packages to help busy business owners and business development professionals communicate a consistent message, and drive business growth across LinkedIn, Facebook, Google +1, Twitter, the company website, and any other online channels.

All Packages Include:

• In-depth phone consult .
• Customized process tailored to your specific needs.
• 5-7 business day turnaround from consultation.
• 100% satisfaction guaranteed!

Ready to get started?  ORDER NOW or CONTACT US to discuss your needs!
If you’re a business owner looking for information on business planning, please see our sister site, 5 Step Business Planning, for 5 simple steps to starting a business, useful information, and an example business plan or two to get ideas.

“The one buzzword that gets me the most is “out-of-the-box,” “outside of the box” or any similar variation. Though I don’t hear it used as much as it was a few years ago, it means nothing to me. This common buzzword deserves a more in-depth explanation from the speaker. What does “out of the box” mean to you and how has your creativity delivered results?”

This quote comes directly from a staffing industry professional, and it poses an excellent question to any level, from young professional to C-Level.  What does “out of the box” mean and should you use it in resume writing?  Just about anyone could claim they think and act “out of the box,” and in recent years, the phrase has lost much of its value to good resume writing.

How can you communicate in a resume, and in the interview, that you are the type of employee that is willing to challenge the status quo and come up with creative ways to add value?  Instead of using the phrase “out of the box,” try showing this through your accomplishments.

Here are some questions to think about:

• Did you come up with a creative way to save costs, reduce redundancy, or create new efficiencies?  What specific action did you take and how much money did you save?
• Did you take a bold sales approach that won new customers and grew sales?  What was different about your strategy, and what was the percentage or dollar amount of the increase?
• Did you take the lead in developing a new vertical market, geography, or sales channel?  What was your strategy, and how much did you generate in incremental sales?
• Did you design a unique analysis tool that identified a new investment opportunity?  What was different about it and what was the return on investment?

Now it’s your turn.  Please share an accomplishment in the comments section that shows how you are “out of the box” (without using that phrase!).

Each comment will serve as an entry to win 20% off any L.D. Writing & Resumes package or a la carte service.  Drawing to take place one week from today.

Looking to get started with your new resume?  ORDER NOW or LEARN MORE about our services!

(To read the Monster article, go here.)

Laurie DeSalvo, CFA, CPRW, is President of L.D. Writing & Résumés, a leading provider of career marketing documents and related services, committed to helping professionals, leaders, and executives advance their careers.

VIEW SAMPLES

Add-Ons & A-La-Carte

Resume Slant (Alternative Resume Version): $125

Linked-In Profile (Add to Silver): $95

LinkedIn Profile (If we didn’t write your resume): $225

Expedited 2-Business Day Turnaround: $95

One Page Biography: $165

Two Page Biography: $295

Cover Letters (Stand Alone or Additional): $95

Resume Update – Basic Info: $ 25

Resume Update – 1 New Position: $95

Resume Update – 2 New Positions: $190

Resume Update – 3 New Positions: $285

Resume Update – 4+ New Positions: Contact us for a Quote

ORDER NOW

VIEW SAMPLES

Add-Ons & A-La-Carte

Resume Slant (Alternative Resume Version): $125

Linked-In Profile (Add to Silver): $95

LinkedIn Profile (If we didn’t write your resume): $225

Expedited 2-Business Day Turnaround: $95

One Page Biography: $165

Two Page Biography: $295

Cover Letters (Stand Alone or Additional): $95

Resume Update – Basic Info: $ 25

Resume Update – 1 New Position: $95

Resume Update – 2 New Positions: $190

Resume Update – 3 New Positions: $285

Resume Update – 4+ New Positions: Contact us for a Quote

ORDER NOW

VIEW SAMPLES

Add-Ons & A-La-Carte

Resume Slant (Alternative Resume Version): $125

Linked-In Profile (Add to Silver): $95

LinkedIn Profile (If we didn’t write your resume): $225

Expedited 2-Business Day Turnaround: $95

One Page Biography: $165

Two Page Biography: $295

Cover Letters (Stand Alone or Additional): $95

Resume Update – Basic Info: $ 25

Resume Update – 1 New Position: $95

Resume Update – 2 New Positions: $190

Resume Update – 3 New Positions: $285

Resume Update – 4+ New Positions: Contact us for a Quote

ORDER NOW

The Finance Resume Objective

Begin with a solid understanding of the roles you will target.  If you aren’t sure, do some research into job postings, review the desired qualifications, and find where you’re skill set might be a match.  If you’re a CFO and you plan to take the next step into a CEO role, you could write C-LEVEL EXECUTIVE in large, bold font.  Below this you might add one or two pithy sentences to differentiate you.  Here are example branding statements for a CFO seeking a CEO role:

“Delivering innovation, growth, leadership, and inspiration.”

“Transforming companies into market leaders.”

The Finance Resume Summary

When designing your finance resume, use a summary to communicate your strengths and key qualifications in the top half of page one.   Here is an example finance resume summary:

“Senior finance executive with leadership success in investment banking, private equity, hedge fund operations, and capital markets. Small and middle market deal record in such areas as renewable energy, real estate, high speed trains, and emerging markets infrastructure. Global network of banks, investors, corporate leaders, and government contacts in the UK, Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Successful COO and Board Member for a single country hedge fund, with an operational focus on leading edge technology, regulatory compliance, operational controls, and risk management.”

Complete the profile section of your finance resume with an Areas of Expertise or Core Competencies section, which offers a list of keywords most relevant to your finance resume objective. Some example finance resume keywords include (but are not limited to):

Financial & Strategic Planning, Financial Projections, General Ledger, Financial Statements, Expense Analysis, Tax Reporting, Tax Planning, Portfolio Management, Cross-Functional Team Leadership, Financial And Strategic Planning, P&L Management, Auditing And Compliance, Operating And Working Capital, Budget Management, Mergers And Acquisitions, Cash-Flow Management, Business Valuations

You should also include your finance or accounting industry certifications and licenses, such as CPA, CFA, and Series 7, 63 and/or 64.

Finance Resume Accomplishments

The rest of the finance resume should cover your professional experience, accomplishments, and relevant education. Under each employer, include a short paragraph describing your job duties, followed by bulleted accomplishments. Your accomplishments should reflect the career highlights that will illustrate your qualification for the target role, and should also hit on the items you most want to talk about in an interview.

Accomplishments on a finance resume often fall into the following categories:

• Restructuring, cost savings, and profit improvement.
• Capital fundraising to fund working capital or growth projects.
• Mergers and acquisitions.
• New processes, metrics, and analyses.
• Successful investment strategies and ideas.
• Month-end close and financial reporting.
• Auditing and compliance.
• Growth in assets under management.
• Portfolio performance versus benchmarks.
• Liquidity and asset protection.
• Financial and operational control.

Remember to focus on Situation, Action, Result (SAR) when writing the accomplishments for your finance resume. Accomplishments written this way offer compelling proof of how you have added value to previous employers, and strongly suggest how you might add value in the future

Looking to get started with your new resume?  ORDER NOW or LEARN MORE about our services!

Laurie DeSalvo, CFA, CPRW, is President of L.D. Writing & Résumés, a leading provider of career marketing documents and related services, committed to helping senior professionals, leaders, and executives advance their careers.

Interview Prep Tip 1: Start with a Great Resume.  It isn’t easy to remember the sum total of your experience, talents, skills, and accomplishments.  The best way to jog your memory is to develop a great resume, and put your story down on paper. (If you need help, contact us!)

Interview Prep Tip 2: Take Notes on Yourself. While you’re developing that great resume, take detailed notes on the top three or four points that qualify you for target jobs, your key areas of expertise, your job experience, your key accomplishments for each job, and your education and training.  If you already have a great resume, walk through it and take notes on each section.  While doing this, think about the details you would want to expand on in an interview.  It sounds like hard work, but this interview prep could make the difference between a forgettable impression, and getting the job.

Interview Prep Tip 3: Anticipate the Hard Questions.  Think beyond the basics to questions that might trip you up.  What are some of the most difficult questions a hiring manager might ask?  Come up with questions specific to your field or seniority level.  For example, if you’re interviewing for an investment analyst role, a hiring manager might ask you to cite a previous investment idea, and defend it.  Once you have a solid list, identify items on your resume that are relevant, or if you think of highlights that aren’t on your resume, consider including them.

Interview Prep Tip 4: Practice Makes Perfect.  Now you’re ready to stage a mock interview, by yourself or with a trusted friend.  Practice verbally expanding on the different points on your resume, and answering the hard questions you brainstormed.  Do this a few times, touching on different details, so you don’t come off sounding like you memorized it.  Practice communicating your story in a concise, clear manner, while leaving room for variation and conversation.

A client recently told me that a hiring manager dug into her resume line-by-line, using it as a roadmap for the interview.  Because she had essentially done her interview prep during the brainstorming and verbal discussion we did to develop her resume, she was able to expand on each point without hesitation.  Long story short, she got the job.

This interview prep can be a rigorous process, but once you’ve done it, you’ll interview with more confidence and self-awareness, be prepared to field almost any question that comes up, and make a powerful, lasting impression that just might get you your next job.

Looking to get started with your new resume?  ORDER NOW or LEARN MORE about our services!

Laurie DeSalvo, CFA, CPRW, is President of L.D. Writing & Résumés, a leading provider of career marketing documents and related services, committed to helping senior professionals, leaders, and executives advance their careers.